A 40-year-old palliative care doctor in Germany has been formally charged with the deaths of 15 patients, following a criminal investigation into the administration of lethal substances.

Prosecutors in Berlin allege that the doctor, whose identity has not been disclosed due to Germany’s strict privacy regulations, administered a combination of anaesthetic and muscle relaxants to patients without their knowledge or consent. The substances are said to have caused rapid respiratory failure, resulting in death within minutes.

Charges

The charges relate to the deaths of 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024. Prosecutors indicated the total number of victims may rise as investigations continue, including planned exhumations.

In addition to the murder allegations, the doctor is also accused of attempting to destroy evidence by setting fire to the homes of five of the deceased. On one occasion in July 2024, he is alleged to have killed two patients in the same day — a 75-year-old man in central Berlin, followed hours later by a 76-year-old woman in a nearby district.

According to prosecutors, he attempted to start a fire at the second patient’s home, but failed. He then reportedly contacted a relative of the woman, claiming he had arrived at her flat and received no response when he rang the bell.

Investigation

The suspect had initially been under investigation in connection with four deaths when he was arrested in August 2024. Subsequent inquiries have revealed a wider pattern of suspicious fatalities across multiple federal states, involving individuals aged between 25 and 94. Authorities are seeking a lifelong professional ban and preventative detention. The doctor remains in custody and, as of the latest reports, has not admitted to the charges.